“HE DOESN’T DESERVE TO BE AT DUCATI” Ducati’s internal turmoil after Alex Marquez’s sarcastic remarks aimed at Bagnaia right before the San Marino GP
The 2025 MotoGP season has been a rollercoaster of drama, and the latest chapter has set the paddock ablaze with controversy. Alex Marquez, riding for Gresini Ducati, sent shockwaves through the MotoGP world with a scathing seven-word statement about factory Ducati star Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia: “He doesn’t deserve to be at Ducati.” The comment, made in a post-race interview following the San Marino Grand Prix, comes on the heels of a turbulent season for Bagnaia, whose inconsistent performances have sparked debate about his place in the sport’s most dominant team. With tensions already high between Bagnaia and Alex’s brother, Marc Marquez, this verbal jab has added fuel to an already fiery rivalry.
Bagnaia, the 2022 and 2023 MotoGP champion, entered 2025 as Ducati’s golden boy, but his campaign has been marred by uncharacteristic errors. Despite a blistering start with a victory at the season-opening Thai Grand Prix, Bagnaia has struggled to maintain consistency. A string of crashes, including a high-profile incident at Aragon where he tangled with Marc Marquez, and a costly mistake at Misano, where he slid out of contention while chasing the lead, have seen him slip behind in the championship standings. Jorge Martin, now with Aprilia, and Marc Marquez, Bagnaia’s factory teammate, have capitalized on his misfortunes, with Marc taking a commanding lead after a string of podiums.
Alex Marquez’s comment reflects a growing sentiment in the paddock that Bagnaia’s struggles are undermining Ducati’s dominance. The Italian, mentored by MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, has faced intense scrutiny for failing to match the pace of his teammate. Marc Marquez, who joined the factory Ducati squad after a stellar 2024 with Gresini, has consistently outperformed Bagnaia, securing four wins by mid-season. Alex, who has enjoyed a career-best season with two podiums on the older GP24 bike, didn’t hold back in his critique, suggesting that Bagnaia’s inability to harness Ducati’s superior machinery questions his worthiness for the coveted factory seat.
The roots of Alex’s outburst may lie in the complex dynamics between the Marquez brothers and Bagnaia. Marc’s arrival at Ducati stirred controversy, with Rossi and his VR46 camp openly critical of the decision to promote him over Martin. The tension was palpable at the Italian Grand Prix, where Marc’s playful gestures during practice—described by commentators as psychological warfare—seemed to rattle Bagnaia. Alex, fiercely loyal to his brother, has been vocal about the perceived bias toward Bagnaia within Ducati. His comment at Misano, where Bagnaia finished a distant seventh, was a pointed jab at the Italian’s recent failures, especially as Marc celebrated a commanding victory on home soil.
The paddock reaction was immediate. Posts on X exploded with fans taking sides, some defending Bagnaia’s championship pedigree and others echoing Alex’s sentiment. Italian media, often protective of Bagnaia, labeled Alex’s words as “disrespectful,” while Spanish outlets praised the Marquez brothers for their boldness. Former rider Casey Stoner weighed in, suggesting that while Alex’s delivery was harsh, Bagnaia’s errors have put undue pressure on Ducati’s title defense. “Pecco’s got the talent, but he’s got to stop throwing points away,” Stoner said on a podcast, highlighting Bagnaia’s eight non-scores in 2024 as a worrying trend that has carried into 2025.
Bagnaia, for his part, responded with restraint, focusing on his determination to rebound. “I don’t race for comments; I race for results,” he said during a press conference in Austria. However, sources close to the VR46 Academy suggest Rossi has been working closely with Bagnaia to sharpen his mental game, urging him to avoid being drawn into the Marquez brothers’ mind games. Rossi’s own history with Marc adds a layer of intrigue, with some speculating that Alex’s comment was a calculated move to destabilize Bagnaia further.
As the 2025 season heads toward its climax, with key races at Motegi and Phillip Island looming, Bagnaia faces immense pressure to prove his detractors wrong. Ducati’s decision to back him as their lead rider is under scrutiny, especially with Marc Marquez thriving and Yamaha’s resurgent V4-powered M1 adding competition. Alex Marquez’s provocative words have not only intensified the spotlight on Bagnaia but also highlighted the fractured dynamics within Ducati’s camp. Whether Bagnaia can silence his critics with a late-season surge remains to be seen, but for now, the MotoGP world is buzzing with the fallout from Alex’s seven-word bombshell. The championship fight is as much about mental fortitude as it is about speed, and Bagnaia’s next move will define his legacy at Ducati.
